Toy



1933- H. SOMERVILLE TOY Filed Dec. 29, 1932 I N V EN TOR.

A ave/ I Samm /11.5 B! $44M 5% ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 10, 1933 TOY' Henry I. Somerville, Mill Hall, Pa. Application December 29, 1932 Serial No. 649,238

3 Claims.. (01. 4640 My invention relates to toys and the main object is to provide a toy constructed in simulation of a fireplace including a hearth and a short open chimney extension through which is normally visible a toy figure of Santa. Claus, there being also a toy dog lying before the fire-' place and means whereby the said figure in the chimney may be drawn downward through the fireplace to the hearth upon which the dog rises and opens its mouth as if barking- Upon release of the operating means the figure of Santa Claus moves back up through the fireplace and the dog again lies down.

Another object is to provide a toy of this kind.

in a simple, inexpensive, durable and attractive form and having an extremely simple operating means for bringing about the above action of the figures. I

With the foregoing and other objectsin view 2o' my invention residesin, the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein one practical em bodiment of my invention is illustrated for purposes of exemplification and wherein? Figure 1 is a perspective view of my toywith' the figures in their normal positions.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section through my toy showing the figure of Santa Claus lowered and the dog raised as described.

Figure 3 is a still further: enlarged longitudi-' nal'section through the figure of the dog in its raised position and showin'g'also a part of the hearth in section,

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the pulley and weight elements of the operating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a vertical and medial cross-section through the figure simulating SantaClaus showing the operating rod raising his cap.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section along the line 66 in Figure 3, the dog being shown however as in its raised position.

Referring now with greater particularity to the drawing in carrying my invention into practice I provide a supporting frame or housing designated generally at 1 and formed of any .suitable material such as cardboard or tin in simulation of a fireplace 2 and hearth 3 painted or otherwise surfaced to simulate brickwork as shown. The hearth 3 is generally rectangular in form preferably tapered on its exposed frontal portion and has downwardly turned marginal fianges 4 forming a cavity 5 beneath. The fireplace 2 comprises the sides 6, back 7, front 8 with inwardly extended U-shaped' firebox portion 9 open at its front 10 and upper end 11 and the top 12 extended upwardly at a medial point in the form of an open-topped chimney extension 13.

A pulley trunion oraxle 14 is disposed horizontally in the'chimney extension 13 and is journaled at its'ends in eyelets 15 in the sides of said extension and a pulley 16 having spaced grooves 1'! is fixed centrally on this axle; A figure 18 simulating Santa Claus. in appearance is provided and is made ofany suitablematerial either solid .orhollow "and a pairof elevating cords l9 are attached atoneend at 20 to spaced points on'theshoulders or pack of the figure 18; are trained upward over the grooves 17 in the pulley 16 and are secured at their other ends to eyes 21 on the weight 22. This weight normally pulls the'figure 18 upward as in Figure 1 until the weight rests on the hearth3 behind the back 23 of the firebox portion 9, the figure 18 in this position, due to the connection 'of the cords 19 some distance below the head, projecting upward somewhat through the open top of the chimney extension 13 .soas to be visible and at the same timehide the pulley 16from view from'the front. A lowering cord 24 is secured at one end at 25 to the lower end of the figure 18 and drops through an eyelet 26 in the hearth 3 and emerges from an eyelet 2'7 in one lateral flange 4 of the hearth as shown, a pull handle orknob 28 being secured 'to the outer free endof the cord and the arrangement being'such that'the figure 18 may be drawn down through the fireplace to the hearth by pulling on the handle 28 as willbe readily apparent. In this position the figure 18 is visible through the opening in the front 8 of the fireplace. A connectingcord 29 is secured at one end 30 to an eye 31'on the lower side of the weight 22 anddrops through an eyelet 32 in the hearth 3 behind the firebox back 23 and then is extended through the aforesaideyelet 26 and is also secured to the figure 18 at the point 25, this cord simply balancing and guiding the elements in their proper path as they are raised and lowered.

A figure 33 simulating a dog inappearance is provided and preferably, though not necessarily, is formed of a hollow metal body 34 suitably shaped and formed in conventional manner to present a natural-and. attractive appearance. Front legs 35 are rigidly mounted on the ends of a shaft 37 extended laterally through the body and J'ournaled therein, the lower ends of these legs being pivotally connected at 38 to bearing ears 39 secured to or formed integrally with the hearth 3 in such position that the figure of the dog faces the firebox opening 10 at some distance therefrom. The lower jaw 40 of the dog is in a separate piece pivoted at 41 to the body and has a finger 42 extended adjacent a finger 43 secured rigidly on the shaft 37 at a medial point for a purpose to be. described. Rear or hindlegs 44 are provided and are secured at their upper ends on a shaft 45 extended laterally through the body and journaled in the sides ears 39.

through an opening 50 and is connected at its end by a link 51 to a crank 52 formed medially in the shaft 45. One of the front legs 35 has an upwardly turned toe or lever 53 to which is secured at 54 one end of a cord 55 which drops beneath the hearth 3'through an eyelet 56 and 'is rigidly secured at 57 to the lowering cord 24. The length of this cordr55 and the position at which it is connected to the cord 24v is such that as the figure 18 of Santa Claus approaches and reaches the hearth the cord 55 will bedrawn outward pulling downward on the. toe 53 of the front leg 35. Thisleg pivoting on theear 39 will project the dogs body 34 upward and forward to cause the dog to. assume. an erect stand- 7 ing position and the legs and 44 to rest in natural position. As the forelegs 35 :move as described the finger 43 will press upward tonthe finger 42 swinging the lower jaw40 downward to open the dogs mouth and simultaneously the dog and the dog will then resume its normal posi-,

tion. The weight 22 of course returns the figure 18 to its normal position whileuthe weight of the figure 33 is sufiicient to turn it to its de-.

pressed position, it being necessary however that the legs do not reach a dead center position as they are raised as will be understood.

The figure l8hasa vertically or longitudinally.

extended bore or passage. 58 in which is loosely mounted a rod 59 havinga knob or. one largement 60 at its upper end adapted-to hold it from slipping down and out .ofthe borev and having a foot 61 and its downwardly extended end at same distance, below the feet of the figure. The figure 18 is provided'with a stocking; or toboggan cap 62. of elongated tapered-formmade of cloth or similar flexible material and secured by its larger end at 63 over the head of the figure with its tasseled end 64 hanging free. As the figure 18 is lowered to hearth as aforesaid the foot 61 will strike the hearth forcing the rod 59 upward in the bore 58 and causing the knob 60 to raise the tasseled end of the cap 62 upward as shown in Figure 2; This action simulates fear on the part of the figure 18 when the dog 33 rises and enhances the entertaining features of the toy.

i While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary therefrom in minor structural-details so as best to construct a practical device for the purposes intended, not departing from'the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a toy, a housing simulating a fireplace and hearth, afigure mounted in the fireplace and adapted to be raised and lowered therein, and a figure mounted on the hearth and adapted to be-rais'ed as the figure in the fireplace is lowered and to return to its normal depressed position as the figure in the fireplace israised.

2. In a toy, a housing simulating a fireplace,

hearth and .chimney, a pulley mounted in thechimney, cords trained over the pulley, a weight connected to one end of the cords, a figure connected to the other end of the cords and normally pulled upward into. the chimney by the weight, a lowering cord connected to the figure, a figure pivotally mounted on the hearth facing the fireplace, and a cord connecting'the figure on the hearth to the lowering cord whereby said figure will be-raised as the figure in the fireplace is pulled downward by the lowering cord.

3.=In a :toy,a housing simulating a fireplace, hearth and chimney, a pulley mounted in the chimney, cords trained over the pulley,:a-weight connected to one endof the cords; a'figure con lowering cord connected to the figure, a figure plvotally mounted on the hearth facing the fireplace, and a cord'conn'ecting the figure on the hearth to, the lowering cord whereby saidfigure will be raised as the figure in the fireplace is pulledjdownward by, the lowering cord, the said figure on the hearth comprising a body, legs pivotally mounted. on the body. and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the hearth, one, 

